Skip to content
Tatiana Pasternak, Ph.D.

Tatiana Pasternak, Ph.D.

Contact

Call Center (585) 276-3000

About Me

Faculty Appointments

Professor Emeritus - Department of Neuroscience (SMD)

Credentials

Education

PhD | Denmark-Univ of Copenhagen. Behavioral Neurophysiology. 1977

Research

My current research is focused on the mechanisms underlying processing and storage of visual motion information in primate cortex. In our studies we combine single cell recordings, microstimulation, reversible inactivation with psychophysical measures of visual performance. We have shown that neuron...
My current research is focused on the mechanisms underlying processing and storage of visual motion information in primate cortex. In our studies we combine single cell recordings, microstimulation, reversible inactivation with psychophysical measures of visual performance. We have shown that neurons in visual cortical area MT, strongly associated with processing of visual motion, also participate in the storage and the retrieval/comparison operations required by working memory tasks.

Publications

Journal Articles

Unilateral inactivation of lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) affects the retention of contralateral spatial and motion information. (in preparation)

Pasternak, T.; Foster, A.; Wong, K; and Conley, M.

2019; .

Inactivation of posterior prefrontal cortex affects processing of visual motion in area MT during motion comparisons. (in preparation)

Islam, Md. N.; Samu, D. and Pasternak, T.

2019; .

Memory-related and anticipatory signals in area MT during comparisons of visual motion are determined by task demands. (in preparation)

Islam, Md. N.; Wimmer, K. and Pasternak, T.

2019; .

Prefrontal Neurons Represent Motion Signals from Across the Visual Field But for Memory-Guided Comparisons Depend on Neurons Providing These Signals.

Wimmer K, Spinelli P, Pasternak T

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 2016 September 736 (36):9351-64. Epub 1900 01 01.

Transitions between Multiband Oscillatory Patterns Characterize Memory-Guided Perceptual Decisions in Prefrontal Circuits.

Wimmer K, Ramon M, Pasternak T, Compte A

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 2016 January 1336 (2):489-505. Epub 1900 01 01.

Unilateral prefrontal lesions impair memory-guided comparisons of contralateral visual motion.

Pasternak T, Lui LL, Spinelli PM

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 2015 May 635 (18):7095-105. Epub 1900 01 01.

A hierarchy of intrinsic timescales across primate cortex.

Murray JD, Bernacchia A, Freedman DJ, Romo R, Wallis JD, Cai X, Padoa-Schioppa C, Pasternak T, Seo H, Lee D, Wang XJ

Nature neuroscience.. 2014 December 17 (12):1661-3. Epub 11/10/2014.

Linking neural activity to complex decisions.

Hayden B, Pasternak T

Visual neuroscience.. 2013 November 30 (5-6):331-42. Epub 09/16/2013.

Common rules guide comparisons of speed and direction of motion in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

Hussar CR, Pasternak T

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 2013 January 1633 (3):972-86. Epub 1900 01 01.

Memory-guided sensory comparisons in the prefrontal cortex: contribution of putative pyramidal cells and interneurons.

Hussar CR, Pasternak T

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 2012 February 2232 (8):2747-61. Epub 1900 01 01.

Representation of comparison signals in cortical area MT during a delayed direction discrimination task.

Lui LL, Pasternak T

Journal of neurophysiology.. 2011 September 106 (3):1260-73. Epub 06/15/2011.

Trial-to-trial variability of the prefrontal neurons reveals the nature of their engagement in a motion discrimination task.

Hussar C, Pasternak T

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.. 2010 December 14107 (50):21842-7. Epub 11/22/2010.

Flexibility of sensory representations in prefrontal cortex depends on cell type.

Hussar CR, Pasternak T

Neuron.. 2009 December 1064 (5):730-43. Epub 1900 01 01.

Directional signals in the prefrontal cortex and in area MT during a working memory for visual motion task.

Zaksas D, Pasternak T

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 2006 November 826 (45):11726-42. Epub 1900 01 01.

Area MT neurons respond to visual motion distant from their receptive fields.

Zaksas D, Pasternak T

Journal of neurophysiology.. 2005 December 94 (6):4156-67. Epub 08/24/2005.

Working memory in primate sensory systems.

Pasternak T, Greenlee MW

Nature reviews. Neuroscience.. 2005 February 6 (2):97-107. Epub 1900 01 01.

Activity of neurons in cortical area MT during a memory for motion task.

Bisley JW, Zaksas D, Droll JA, Pasternak T

Journal of neurophysiology.. 2004 January 91 (1):286-300. Epub 10/01/2003.

Training-induced recovery of visual motion perception after extrastriate cortical damage in the adult cat.

Huxlin KR, Pasternak T

Cerebral cortex.. 2004 January 14 (1):81-90. Epub 1900 01 01.

Stimulus specificity and temporal dynamics of working memory for visual motion.

Pasternak T, Zaksas D

Journal of neurophysiology.. 2003 October 90 (4):2757-62. Epub 06/11/2003.

Motion information is spatially localized in a visual working-memory task.

Zaksas D, Bisley JW, Pasternak T

Journal of neurophysiology.. 2001 August 86 (2):912-21. Epub 1900 01 01.

Long-term neurochemical changes after visual cortical lesions in the adult cat.

Huxlin KR, Pasternak T

The Journal of comparative neurology.. 2001 January 8429 (2):221-41. Epub 1900 01 01.

Microstimulation of cortical area MT affects performance on a visual working memory task.

Bisley JW, Zaksas D, Pasternak T

Journal of neurophysiology.. 2001 January 85 (1):187-96. Epub 1900 01 01.

The multiple roles of visual cortical areas MT/MST in remembering the direction of visual motion.

Bisley JW, Pasternak T

Cerebral cortex.. 2000 November 10 (11):1053-65. Epub 1900 01 01.

Attention increases sensitivity of V4 neurons.

Reynolds JH, Pasternak T, Desimone R

Neuron.. 2000 June 26 (3):703-14. Epub 1900 01 01.

Lesions in cat lateral suprasylvian cortex affect the perception of complex motion.

Rudolph KK, Pasternak T

Cerebral cortex.. 1996 6 (6):814-22. Epub 1900 01 01.

The role of striate cortex in visual function of the cat.

Pasternak T, Tompkins J, Olson CR

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 1995 March 15 (3 Pt 1):1940-50. Epub 1900 01 01.

A reduction in the number of directionally selective neurons extends the spatial limit for global motion perception.

Rudolph KK, Ferrera VP, Pasternak T

Vision research.. 1994 December 34 (24):3241-51. Epub 1900 01 01.

Motion perception following lesions of the superior temporal sulcus in the monkey.

Pasternak T, Merigan WH

Cerebral cortex.. 1994 4 (3):247-59. Epub 1900 01 01.

Spatiotemporal sensitivity following lesions of area 18 in the cat.

Pasternak T, Maunsell JH

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 1992 November 12 (11):4521-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Deficits in speed discrimination following lesions of the lateral suprasylvian cortex in the cat.

Pasternak T, Horn KM, Maunsell JH

Visual neuroscience.. 1989 October 3 (4):365-75. Epub 1900 01 01.

Effects of serial lesions of telencephalic components of the visual system in pigeons.

Riley NM, Hodos W, Pasternak T

Visual neuroscience.. 1988 1 (4):387-94. Epub 1900 01 01.

Pattern and motion vision in cats with selective loss of cortical directional selectivity.

Pasternak T, Leinen LJ

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 1986 April 6 (4):938-45. Epub 1900 01 01.

The role of cortical directional selectivity in detection of motion and flicker.

Pasternak T

Vision research.. 1986 26 (8):1187-94. Epub 1900 01 01.

Selective damage to large cells in the cat retinogeniculate pathway by 2,5-hexanedione.

Pasternak T, Flood DG, Eskin TA, Merigan WH

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 1985 June 5 (6):1641-52. Epub 1900 01 01.

Effects of stimulus speed on direction discriminations.

Pasternak T, Merigan WH

Vision research.. 1984 24 (10):1349-55. Epub 1900 01 01.

The role of area centralis in the spatial vision of the cat.

Pasternak T, Merigan WH, Flood DG, Zehl D

Vision research.. 1983 23 (12):1409-16. Epub 1900 01 01.

Creation of direction selectivity in adult strobe-reared cats.

Pasternak T, Movshon JA, Merigan WH

Nature.. 1981 August 27292 (5826):834-6. Epub 1900 01 01.

Motion mechanisms in strobe-reared cats: psychophysical and electrophysical measures.

Pasternak T, Merigan WH, Movshon JA

Acta psychologica.. 1981 August 48 (1-3):321-32. Epub 1900 01 01.

The luminance dependence of spatial vision in the cat.

Pasternak T, Merigan WH

Vision research.. 1981 21 (9):1333-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Abnormal visual resolution of cats reared in stroboscopic illumination.

Pasternak T, Merigan WH

Nature.. 1979 July 26280 (5720):313-4. Epub 1900 01 01.

Intensity difference thresholds after lesions of the visual Wulst in pigeons.

Pasternak T, Hodos W

Journal of comparative and physiological psychology.. 1977 June 91 (3):485-97. Epub 1900 01 01.

Books

The New Visual Neuroscience (2014)

Chapter: Ventral and Dorsal Cortical Processing Streams.

Authors: Bell AH, Pasternak T, Ungerleider LG

Publisher: The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA 2014

The New Encyclopedia of Neuroscience (2009)

Chapter: Short-Term and Working Memory

Authors: Postle B Pasternak T

Publisher: Academic Press, Oxford 2009

The Visual Neurosciences (2004)

Chapter: The Dorsal and Ventral Visual Streams

Authors: Ungerleider, L. & Pasternak, T.

Publisher: MIT Press 2004

Neuropsychology of Vision (2003)

Chapter: Lesions in primate visual cortex leading to deficits of perception.

Authors: Merigan, WH.; Pasternak, T.

Publisher: Oxford University Press, New York 2003

Comparative Perception, Basic Mechanisms (1990)

Chapter: Vision following loss of cortical directional selectivity.

Authors: Pasternak, T.

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, New York 1990